Patient lift



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PATIENT LIFT Filed Dec. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR. OZAFA.LUNDBERG /4-r TORNE Y5 g- 1965 o. A. LUNDBERG PATIENT LIFT 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1963 I N VEN TOR. OL/IF/l. L l/IVDBERGitfl/fifw 147'7'0RNEYJ Aug. 31, 1965 o. A. LUNDBERG 3,203,009

' PATIENT LIFT Filed Dec. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

1 N VE N TOR. OLA FA L UNDBERG BYWQIMM /47-raRNEY$' United States PatentOffice 3,203,@9 Patented Aug. 31, 1965 3,203,009 PATIENT LIFT OlafAlfred Lundberg, '512 49th Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Dec. 4,1963, Ser. No. 327,895 4 Claims. (Cl, 81)

This invention relates to means for lifting and carrying incapacitatedpersons, such as invalids, hospital patients and the like. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a modified and improved patientlift and carrier of greater versatility and usefulness, especially inenabling such patients to be bathed.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a patientlift and carrier which is capable of lifting a patient while providingsubstantial longitudinal support for his body, carrying him and loweringhim with maximum ease and safety and minimum discomfort to the patient.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which thesame numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the patient lift according to thepresent invention shown with a patient carrying sling in a raisedposition and showing the lift in broken lines in a lowered position;

FIGURE 2 is a left end elevation;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a right end elevation of the patient supporting yoke andsling suspended from the lift arm;

FIGURE 5 is a partial side elevation of the patient lift shown with aswivel support for the patient carrying sling; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial section on the line 66 of FIGURE 5 and in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, the patient lift according to the presentinvention comprises a generally U- shaped horizontal base frameincluding a pair of elongated arms 11 and 12. Each of arms 11 and 12extends horizontally and is provided with a forward caster 13 andrearward caster 14, each of which is swivel mounted for easy maneuveringand movement of the lift. The rearward ends of arms 11 and 12 are bentinwardly and are provided with relatively short vertical standards orposts 15 and 16, respectively, welded to the arms, by which the arms arepivotally mounted in a body frame, indicated generally at 17.

The body frame 17 includes a lower horizontal laterally extending plate18 and a corresponding spaced apart upper plate 19. A centrally disposedvertical plate 20 extends between horizontal plates 18 and 19 adjacenttheir rearward edges. Vertical post 15 of arm 11 is disposed betweenplates 18 and 19 of the body frame adjacent one end and secured theretofor pivotal movement by means of a pin or bolt 21. Arm 12 is similarlypivotally mounted in the body frame by means of a pin or bolt 22.

The arms 11 and 12 thus extend forwardly from the body frame 17 and areadapted to be pivoted in the body frame 17 to spread apart the free endsof the arms. This is in order to permit the lift to straddle one end ofa bed or a bath tub or the like in order to facilitate lifting of apatient and deposit of a patient after being lifted and carried. Thefree ends of the arms are then adapted to be brought closer together inorder to make easier the transport of the patient by pushing of the liftand carrier, particularly where the patient is to be moved throughnarrow doorways and the like.

Spreading of the arms and return of the arms to their more closelyspaced position is accomplished by movement of a lever 23 by its handle24. Lever 23 is pivotally attached to the rearward face of plate 20 bymeans of a pivot pin or bolt 25. Movement of lever 23 is limited to avertical plane by means of a pair of spaced apart arcuate straps 26 and27 which are secured to vertical plate 20 by means of bolts 28 and 29and held spaced apart from each other and from plate 20 by means ofspacers 30, 31, 32 and 33. Bolts 28 and 29 and spacers 30 and 32 alsoserve to limit the extent of movement of lever 23 in its vertical plane.

The rearward edge of arm 11 is provided with a generally horizontalprojecting lug 34 to which an adjustable link 35 is pivotally attachedby means of bolt or pin 36. The opposite end of adjustable link 35 ispivotally attached at 37 to lever 23 below the pivotal attachment 25 ofthe lever to plate 20. Arm 12 is similarly provided with a rearwardlyprojecting horizontal lug 38 to which an adjustable link 39 is pivotallyattached at 40. The opposite end of adjustable link 39 is pivotallyattached at 41 to lever 23 above the pivotal attachment 25 of the leverto plate 20.

When lever 23 is moved from left to right, as viewed in FIGURE 2, forceis transmitted through the links 35 and 39 to pull the lugs 34 and 38 ofarms 11 and 12, respectively, toward one another. This causes the armsto pivot on their pivots 21 and 22, respectively, to assume the spreadapart positions shown in broken lines in FIGURE 3. With the arms in thisposition, it is relatively easy for the lift to be wheeled into positionstraddling the legs of a free-standing hospital bed or a free standingbath tub to facilitate movement of the patient. When lever 23 is movedin the opposite direction, the legs are again pivoted with their freeends being brought closer together.

The patient lift includes a vertical post or standard 42 centrallydisposed in and supported by the body frame 17. Vertical post 42 extendsa substantial distance above the body frame. At about arm level of anormal adult, there is provided a transverse horizontal crossbar 43fitted with handles 44 to facilitate movement of the patient lift on itscasters by pushing or pulling.

A lower elongated lifting arm 45 and a spaced apart parallel upperlifting arm 46 are pivotally attached to the upper end of vertical post42 at 47 and 48 respectively. Arms 45 and 46 extend forward from theforward edge of post 42 and are movable together up and down on theirpivots. A rigid rectangular patient supporting frame, indicatedgenerally at 49, is pivotally secured to the opposite ends of arms 45and 46 at 50 and 51, respectively. Arms 45 and 46, and frame 49 thus arepositioned generally between and above arms 11 and 12 of the supportingbase. Arms 45 and 46 are of approximately equal length and parallel.Pivots 50 and 51 are spaced apart by approximately the same distance asare pivots 47 and 48.

The rectangular frame 49 includes a lower longitudinally extendinghorizontal arm or bar 52 and a spaced apart parallel upper arm or bar53. The forward ends of frame members 52 and 53 are held rigidly securedtogether by means of a pair of plate members 54 and 55. The rearwardends of the horizontal frame members are similarly held rigidly securedtogether by means of a pair of vertical strap members 56 and 57.Although shown as an open frame, the supporting member 49 may obviouslybe of other construction so long as it is of rigid construction andpivotally attached to the parallel arms 45 and 46, as described.

The arms 45 and 46 form a parallelogram linkage between the verticalpost 42 and the patient supporting frame 49. Whatever position arms 45and 46 may assume, the vertical post 42 remains vertical and the patientsupport frame 49 remains horizontal.

The lifting arms and patient supporting frame are raised by means of ajack in the form of a hydraulic pump 58 manually operated by means oflever 59 and handle 60. Lever 59 operates the pump mechanism to pumpfluid into a cylinder 61 to act upon a piston 62 in the conventionalmanner. The piston is pivotally attached at 63 in a projecting bracket64 extending forward from the forward edge of vertical post 42. The freeend of cylinder 61 is similarly pivotally attached at 65 extendingdownwardly from the bottom edge of arm 45 and spaced intermediate of theends thereof.

As is well understood, when hydraulic fluid is pumped into the cylinder61 to act upon the piston 62., the piston is forced out from thecylinder spreading the supporting brackets 64 and 66 apart. This causesarm 45 to be lifted and, because of the parallel linkage with arm 46,raises it as the two arms are maintained parallel. Because of theparallelogram linkage between vertical post 42 and the patientsupporting frame 49, the frame 49 is maintained horizontal regardless ofthe position of the lifting arms. This enables the patient to bemaintained in a substantially horizontal position while being lifted,carried and lowered so as to cause a minimum of discomfort to thepatient.

The patient is carried in a sling supported from the frame 49. The lowerbar 52 of frame 49 is provided with an eye member 67 adjacent itsforward and rearward ends. An inverted V yoke 68 provided with a centralsupporting hook 69 is suspended from each of eyes 67. The opposite endsof yoke 68 are provided with supporting hooks 70. A patient sling 71formed from strong flexible fabric material, such as canvas or the like,is provided with a plurality of grommets 72 adjacent its edges.

A plurality of lengths of chain 73, provided with hooks 74 at theirlower ends to engage grommets 72, are suspended from the hooks 70 of theyokes 68 to support the sling and a patient carried therein. The patientmay be lifted and carried in a flat horizontal position or, if desired,the head and shoulders may be slightly elevated (as shown in FIGURE 1)by shortening the rearwardmost chains 73. In any event, the patient hassubstantial support lengthwise of his body.

In FIGURES and 6 there is shown a swivel mounting means for the patientcarrying sling which increases the versatility and adaptability of thepatient lift according to the present invention. A rotary swivel means74 is secured, as by welding, to the bottom edge of the lower arm 52 ofthe supporting frame 49. In the form illustrated, the swivel 74comprises a circular channel suspended from the supporting frame andhaving a generally horizontal and circular track portion 75 definedbetween the circular side wall 76 by which it is suspended and acircular retaining lip 77.

A plurality of rollers 78 journalled for rotation and mounted ingenerally horizontal support bars 79 are positioned within the swivelchannel for movement along the circular track 75. The support bars 79are positioned within the periphery of the channel, being suspended fromthe rollers which are retained in the channel by means of the retaininglip 77. An elongated horizontal bar 80 is secured to the support bar 79,being suspended under the swivel means with suflicient 4 clearance topermit rotation of the bar on the rollers 78. The ends of bar 80 areprovided with eyes 81 in order to receive and support yokes 68 to carrythe sling 71. Bar 80 is located with respect to the swivel so that theapproximate center of gravity of the patient carried in the sling willunderlie the swivel means.

The lift with the swivel means is raised and lowered and the patient istransported in the same manner as already described. The swivel meansprovides greater versatility for the lift in receiving and depositingpatients, however. In its normal carrying position bar 80 is alignedwith the cantilevered arms 45 and 46 and supporting frame 49. However,under conditions in which the attendant can approach the patients bed ora bathtub or therapy unit or the like only from the side the swivelpermits the sling to be rotated into parallel alignment with the patientand the patient approached from the side. In all other respects theconstruction and the operation of the modified form of lift is the same.Instead of the particular form of swivel means shown other ring bearingtype structures may be employed.

The patient lift, according to the present invention, provides a safeand comfortable lift for the patient. The hydraulic pump allows raisingand lowering the sling at a gentle rate of speed without jolt or jar. Itmay be used to transfer a patient from bed to bed, or bed to wheelchair, or wheel chair to bed, or the like. It has been foundparticularly useful for bathing patients. The patient may be lifted froma bed, carried and lowered into a bath tub. The sling may be made frommaterial non-absorbent with respect to water. In this instance, thesling may simply be left in the tube while the patient is bathed. Thelift may likewise be used to place a patient in a whirlpool or similarhydrotherapy unit. By suitable adjustment of the chain lengths, thepatient may be lifted and carried while prone, or supine, or seated.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention.as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by Wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A lift and carrier for patients comprising (A) a Wheeled generallyhorizontal supporting base including (1) a pair of horizontallyextending spaced apart elongated arms which are open at one end andpivotally connected at the other,

(B) an elongated vertical standard extending upward from said base,

(1) said standard being centrally disposed between the arms of the baseadjacent the pivotal connections of the arms,

(C) at least two parallel and vertically spaced apart elongated liftingarms of substantially equal effective length,

(1) each pivotally connected to said vertical standard a substantialdistance above said base,

(2) extending from said standard above and between the extending arms ofsaid base, and

(3) movable in a vertical plane to extend angularly outwardly from saidstandard,

(D) a generally constantly horizontal elongated rigid patient supportingframe,

( 1) pivotally connected to each of said parallel lifting arms,

(2) extending from the ends of the lifting arms spaced from the standardabove and between the extending arms of the base, and

(3) movable in a vertical plane with said lifting arms to remaingenerally constantly horizontal,

(E) Body supporting means for the patient suspended from said patientsupporting frame,

(1) said body supporting means including (a) an elongated horizontalsupporting bar,

(1)) swivel mounting means suspending said horizontal supporting barfrom said patient supporting frame,

(i) one end of said horizontal supporting bar extending beyond saidswivel mounting means a greater distance than the other end of said bar,

(c) at least two longitudinally spaced apart yoke members suspended fromsaid supporting bar adjacent the ends thereof, and

(d) .a flexible sling suspended from said yoke members by a plurality offlexible and substantially vertically extending connecting links, .and

(F) jack means pivotally connected .to at least one of said parallellifting arms to permit said arms to be raised.

2. A lift and carrier according to claim 1 further characterized in that(A) said extending arms of said supporting base are pivotally connectedat opposite ends of a body frame member for limited rotation about avertical axis,

(B) a lever is pivotally attached to said body frame for limitedrotation in a vertical plane transverse of the supporting base about acentrally disposed horizontal axis, and

(C) a separate link is pivotally connected to each of said extendingarms and to said lever on opposite sides of its axis of rotation,whereby said extending arms may be spread apart and brought togetherupon movement of said lever.

3. A lift and carrier according to claim 1 further characterized in thatsaid lifting arms comprise a pair of rigid parallel elongated metal barsof equal length whose pivotal connections to said vertical standard andsaid patient supporting frame are equally spaced, whereby said arms forma parallelogram linkage between the vertical standard and patientsupporting frame to maintain the latter constantly horizontal.

4-. A lift and carrier according to claim 1 further characterized inthat said patient supporting frame is comprised of a pair of rigidparallel elongated metal bars rigidly secured together by connectingmembers in a rectangular frame lying in a vertical plane, the lowermostbar of said frame being provided with said swivel means for suspending acarrier for supporting the body of a patient therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,620,298 3/27Smith 5-89 X 2,565,536 8/51 Valentine 5-84 2,821,406 1/58 Hoyer 5-87 X2,914,110 11/59 Schulte 5-87 2,975,434 3/61 Butler et al 586 FOREIGNPATENTS 218,600 11/58 Australia.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. A LIFT AND CARRIER FOR PATIENTS COMPRISING (A) A WHEELED GENERALLYHORIZONTAL SUPPORTING BASE INCLUDING (1) A PIR OF HORIZONTALLY EXTENDINGSPACED APART ELONGATED ARMS WHICH ARE OPEN AT ONE END AND PIVOTALLYCONNECTED AT THE OTHER, (B) ON ELONGATED VERTICAL STANDARD EXTENDINGUPWARD FROM AID BASE, (1) SAID STANDARD BEING CENTRALLY DISPOSED BETWEENTHE ARMS OF THE BASE ADJACENT THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS OF THE ARMS, (C)AT LEAST TWO PARALLEL AND VERTICALLY SPACED APART ELONGATED LIFTING ARMSOF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL EFFECTIVE LENGTH (1) EACH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOSAID VERTICAL STANDARD A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ABOVE SAID BASE, (2)EXTENDING FROM SAID STANDARD ABOVE AND BETWEEN THE EXTENDING ARMS OFSAID BASE, AND (3) MOVABLE IN A VERTICAL PLANE TO EXTEND ANGU LARLYOUTWARDLY FROM SAID STANDARD, (D) A GENERALLY CONSTANTLY HORIZONTLALELONGATED RIGID PATENT SUPPORTING FRAME, (1) PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO EACHOF SAID PARALLEL LIFTING ARMS, (2) EXTENDING FROM THE ENDS OF THELIFTING ARMS SPACED FROM THE STANDARD ABOVE AND BETWEEN THE EXTENDINGARMS OF THE BASE,A ND (3) MOVABLE IN A VERTICAL PLANE WITH SIAD LIFTINGARMS TO REMAIN GENERALLY CONSTANTLY HORIZONTAL, (E) BODY SUPPORTINGMEANS FOR THE PATIENT SUSPENDED FROM SIAD PATENT SUPPORTING FRAME, (1)SAID BODY SUPORTING MEANS INCLUDING (A) AN ELONGATED HORIZONTALSUPORTING BAR, (B) SWIVEL MOUNTING MEANS SUSPENDING SAID HORIZONTALSUPPORTING BAR FROM SAID PATIENT SUPPORTING FRAME, (I) ONE END OF SAIDHORIZONTAL SUPPORTING BAR EXTENDING BEYOND SAID SWIVEL MOUNTING MEANS AGREATER DISTANCE THAN THE OTHER END OF SAID BAR, (C) AT LEAST TWOLONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART YOKE MEMBERS SUSPENDED FROM SAID SUPPORTINGBAR ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF, AND (D) A FLEXIBLE SLING SUSPENDED FROMSAID YOKE MEMBERS BY A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE ANS SUBSTANTIALLYVERTICALLY EXTENDING CONNECTING LINKS, AND (F) JACK MEANS PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PARALLEL LIFTING ARMS TO PERMIT SAIDARMS TO BE RAISED.